MELANIN BASE CAMP

I was recently lucky enough to make my first voyage to one of the top climbing destinations in the world: Fontainebleau—or Font. For most of my climbing career, I’d heard stories about the beautiful sandstone boulders and the flat, sandy landings. I knew I had to experience it for myself one day.

But planning a climbing trip to a foreign country can feel overwhelming and even a little scary, especially if it’s your first time. To help make your experience smoother and more enjoyable, here are some tips I picked up along the way.

Esther Park is on a mission to help women in skydiving fit in–literally. 

She left a comfortable job in scientific sales after a life-changing skydiving accident. Since then, she founded a company, Girls in Sky Places, to help women find correctly-sized gear. 

We kicked off from the South Kaibab Trailhead at 4:30 AM, in the dark, our headlamps lighting the way. The morning was cool—perfect hiking weather—and the sky was just starting to hint at the sunrise. The trail drops fast, and within minutes we weaved our way down steep switchbacks, passing early-bird day hikers and the occasional runner already charging uphill.

Summer is here and prices couldn’t be higher! Recession indicators are everywhere, federal student loan repayments are back on and rent is rising in major cities across the U.S. But you don’t want to spend all your time at home either. Here are eight ways to get outside for free (or close enough) while making friends, building community and learning new hobbies. Let’s go!

Over the past five days, we shared our anxieties and fears about this moment. Not one of us could say that we felt absolutely confident in our abilities to get to the top. However, I remembered the one promise we all made each other. “If you keep going, I will, too”.

Do you live in Washington DC? Are you looking for a challenging day hike within reach of the city? Then you should check out North Fork Mountain.

It’s less than 3 hrs away which means you can start and end the day at home in your own bed. But I’ll also cover camping and cabin options for people who don’t like long road trips.

Travel safety begins long before you board the plane. If you limit your planning to scrolling through TikTok for beautiful beaches or cozy coffee shops, you may be in for a surprise. It’s important to understand the cultural attitudes of your destination, especially toward race, gender, and sexuality. In some places, you may attract curious stares; in others, you could encounter microaggressions or discrimination.

I’ve been seeing chiros since I was 12 to help manage my Ehler-Danlos syndrome, a hypermobility disorder that makes me more susceptible to injury and joint dislocations. They have been a life saver for me and the only reason I’ve been able to maintain my athletic abilities. Since I’ve moved quite a bit over the past 25 years, I’ve had to regularly find a new chiropractor. Here are a few tips to help you find the best chiropractor for you.

Recently, there was a good weather window at Hueco Tanks- some cool weather in April. I really wanted to take advantage of this so I decided that my nearly 2 year old son, Hans Sven would join me! It would be our first mother-son trip. My husband was nervous to be separated from him, and wondered how would I keep him safe while climbing and hiking. Not afraid of a challenge, I made a plan and was excited to show Hans Sven my favorite place in the entire world!